Piñol transferred to MinDA
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2019 03:39:11 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol will be transferred to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to serve as the government’s “point man” to the Bangsamoro autonomous region.
In his speech during the inauguration of Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Complex in Alangalang, Leyte, Duterte said Piñol’s expertise was needed to hasten the implementation of programs for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Secretary Piñol will be leaving the Agriculture portfolio. Hirap ako sa Mindanao (I’m having difficulties in Mindanao) because we have created a new political entity there,” Duterte said.
“There seems to be a lag, there’s not much activity in really trying to devolve all powers of the national government relevant to the existence of BARMM. They seemed to be… I am not saying that they are not moving. But ever so slow that I would need a point man there in the likes of Secretary Piñol,” he added.
Last week, Piñol asked the President to be relieved of his post at the Agriculture department and reassigned to another agency.
As MinDA chief, Piñol will act as the national government’s intermediary to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the interim caretaker government until the election of the regional leaders in 2022.
Duterte earlier told the BTA to speed up its work, as he appeared unsatisfied with the pace setting up the BARMM, which was inaugurated in March. CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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